Master in Geoinformatics Engineering at Polytechnic University of Milan
Two-year English-taught master's at Politecnico di Milano (interclass LM-32/LM-35) on processing geospatial data from satellites, GNSS and sensors, with a computing track and an environmental track. Entry needs a technical or scientific bachelor's and an English test such as IELTS 6.
Master
2 years
Milan
English
Polytechnic University of Milan
Geoinformatics Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (interclass LM-32/LM-35) taught in English at Politecnico di Milano's Milano Leonardo campus. Entry needs a technical or scientific bachelor's of at least 180 ECTS, ideally with 40 ECTS in maths and physics and 10 in computing, plus an English test such as IELTS 6. Non-EU students with a foreign degree pay the top fee unless awarded a scholarship, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliMi's Geoinformatics Engineering master asks for a technical or scientific bachelor's of at least three years and 180 ECTS, a positive review of your record by the Admission Committee, and English certified with a recognised test. Admission is automatic with at least 40 ECTS in maths and physics and 10 ECTS in computer engineering, and there is no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and background
You need a first-level degree, or an equivalent qualification, from a technical or scientific programme lasting at least three years and worth at least 180 ECTS. An Admission Committee evaluates your academic background against the programme, based on the exams you took and the grades you obtained. [1]
For a degree from a foreign university, admission depends on a check that your qualification is valid and suitable and on a positive assessment by the committee, which looks at the curricular requirements, the quality and coherence of your previous studies and the documents you submit. The committee can name specific courses you must take within the master's. [1][7]
PoliMi also requires a degree that gives access to EQF level 7, issued by a university in the official system of its country, with subjects closely related to the programme. Franchised degrees are not accepted. [2]
The automatic admission rule
The committee admits automatically candidates who meet the merit requirements and have at least: [1]
- 40 ECTS in mathematics and physics (sectors MAT/01, MAT/02, MAT/03, MAT/05, MAT/06 and FIS/01).
- 10 ECTS in computer engineering (sector ING-INF/05).
The same rule applies to a foreign degree that the Degree Programme Board judges suitable, as long as the subject areas and credits on your transcript can be identified. Otherwise the committee reviews your record case by case. [1]
Country rules and minimum grades
PoliMi sets strict country rules for some degrees, with no exceptions: [2]
- India: a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech, B.E., B.Des. or B.Arch. A three-year B.Sc. may be considered only if it is an Honours programme. Minimum average 70 out of 100.
- Pakistan: a four-year continuous bachelor's, as 2+2 degrees are not accepted. Minimum GPA 3.3 out of 4.
- Bangladesh: minimum GPA 3.3 out of 4.
- Sri Lanka: an Honours degree (SLQF level 6). SLQF level 5 qualifications are not evaluated.
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the committee looks at your subjects, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a four-year B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science, IT, Civil or Environmental Engineering with solid maths, physics and programming, and an average that meets your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a four-year degree in Electronics, Mechanical or Geomatics Engineering, or a three-year B.Sc. Honours in Physics, Mathematics or Geology, where the committee checks the maths and physics block and at least 10 ECTS of programming.
- Often short: a three-year B.Sc. without Honours or a three-year BCA from India, a 2+2 degree from Pakistan, or a degree that is not technical or scientific, such as a B.Com, BBA or BA.
English
You need a recognised English certification before you can enrol. [1] For 2026/27, accepted results include: [3]
- IELTS Academic or General Training 6
- TOEFL iBT 78
- Cambridge B2 First at grade B, or C1 Advanced at grade C
- PTE Academic 59
- Trinity ISE II, or LanguageCert B2 Communicator
If your bachelor's was taught in English, a document certified by your university stating the teaching language can replace the certificate. [2]
Italian is not an entry requirement. International students enrol with an Italian learning requirement (OFA) and must certify Italian before the graduation exam. [3]
Selection and places
There is no entrance test. The Admission Committee decides from your academic record. [1]
For 2026/27, PoliMi offered 60 places in Geoinformatics Engineering at Milano Leonardo: 25 for Italian, EU and equivalent students and 35 for non-EU students. [5]
The 2026/27 regulations note that a new admission model for PoliMi master's programmes starts from 2028/29. [1]
Deadlines for the September 2027 intake
Engineering master's programmes have two calls open to applicants living outside Italy: [4]
- First call: 1 October to 1 December 2026, at the €50 early bird fee.
- Second call: 12 January to 25 February 2027, at the €150 standard fee.
Outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. A further call from 1 to 18 March 2027 is only for EEA students and non-EEA students living in Italy with certain permits. You can apply once per semester, to at most two programmes. [4]
You can apply before you graduate, using an attendance certificate, as long as you obtain the degree by the enrolment deadline. [1][2]
Documents for non-EU applicants
Your transcript must show your average or GPA and the grading system, as original or certified documents. Indian applicants upload scanned originals of the transcript or consolidated grade sheet, and screenshots are not accepted. Pakistani applicants also need a university letter stating their weighted average. [2]
To enrol you need a Diploma Supplement where your country issues one, a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement. Without one of these, a positive evaluation does not lead to enrolment, and PoliMi can ask for them at any stage. [2]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- Politecnico di Milano, School of Civil, Environmental and Land Management Engineering and School of Industrial and Information Engineering. Academic regulations, Master's degree in Geoinformatics Engineering (classes LM-32 and LM-35), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Admission to Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification: requirements and country-specific rules, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. English language requirements for Laurea Magistrale programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Application deadlines for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, September 2027 intake. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Places available for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Tuition fees for Laurea, Laurea Magistrale and single-cycle programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Geoinformatics Engineering programme page, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Geoinformatics Engineering is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale) worth 120 ECTS, taught in English at Politecnico di Milano's Milano Leonardo campus. It is an interclass degree between computer systems engineering (LM-32) and environmental engineering (LM-35), run by the School of Civil, Environmental and Land Management Engineering with the School of Industrial and Information Engineering. PoliMi describes it as the first degree of its kind in Italy.
A geoinformatics engineer turns satellite images, GNSS positions and sensor data into usable information for environmental monitoring, land management, infrastructure planning and emergency response. The degree suits graduates in environmental, civil, computer or other engineering and science fields with a good grounding in maths and programming.
What you will study
At enrolment you choose one of two tracks, which also sets your degree class: GEC for students with a computing background (LM-32) or GEO for those from environmental engineering (LM-35). They share most content and differ by 25 ECTS of compulsory courses. Units in the 2026/27 plan include:
- Geospatial Data Analysis and Geographic Information Systems (10 ECTS each)
- Positioning and Location Based Services
- Earth Observation
- Geospatial Processing, and Subsurface Imaging and Detection
- Data and Information Quality
- Computing Infrastructures (GEC) or Computer Architecture and Operating Systems and Software Engineering for Geoinformatics (GEO)
- Electives such as Advanced Geospatial Artificial Intelligence, Photogrammetry and Drone Surveying, Machine Learning, and Space Economy and Earth Observation Business
How the programme is taught
Courses combine lectures, exercises and labs on real or realistic cases, often assessed through project reports. The thesis is worth 15 ECTS and is written and defended in English, with an abstract in Italian and a graphical summary. [1] Students can also follow the Interdisciplinary Programme in Smart Infrastructures, which includes a workshop with Enel Foundation, and PoliMi's exchange and double degree schemes such as TIME.
Career paths
The regulations list employers across every sector that produces or uses spatial and environmental data. Depending on your track, you can later sit the State Examination for the civil and environmental or the information engineers' register.
- SMEs and IT firms building GIS, territorial databases, logistics and planning tools
- National and local bodies handling mapping, land registry and spatial data infrastructures
- Large companies, such as telecoms, needing in-house geospatial experts
- Firms managing environmental sensor networks
- Research institutes working on big geodata, urban analytics and Earth observation
Fees and scholarships
PoliMi's fee rules treat this group separately: non-EU students in the reserved quota who enter a master's with a bachelor's from abroad pay the maximum annual fee, €3,943.04 for a standard 2026/27 study plan, even with an ISEE parificato. That changes if you hold a scholarship from PoliMi, another institution or the DSU call that PoliMi runs, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [6]
How to apply from outside the EU
We apply online in the route for students with a foreign qualification, choosing up to two programmes. For the September 2027 intake, engineering calls for applicants living outside Italy run from 1 October to 1 December 2026, at the €50 early bird fee, and from 12 January to 25 February 2027, at €150, with outcomes by the end of May 2027. [4] For a foreign degree, PoliMi checks that your qualification is valid and suitable, and the Admission Committee assesses your record and may set compulsory courses within the programme. [1] Before enrolment you need a Diploma Supplement, declaration of value or CIMEA statement, then Universitaly pre-enrolment and a type D visa. [2]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your transcript against PoliMi's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with your transcripts and English certificate, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your Politecnico di Milano DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What bachelor's degree do I need for Geoinformatics Engineering at PoliMi?
A technical or scientific bachelor's of at least three years and 180 ECTS. With at least 40 ECTS in maths and physics and 10 ECTS in computer engineering, plus the merit requirements, admission is automatic; otherwise the committee reviews your record. From India, the degree must last at least four years, with at least 70 out of 100. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. The Admission Committee evaluates your academic background from the exams you took and your grades. For a foreign degree it also checks that your qualification is valid and suitable, and it can name courses you must take within the master's. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
You need a recognised English certification to enrol. For 2026/27, accepted scores include IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 78, Cambridge B2 First at grade B and PTE Academic 59. A university-certified document showing your bachelor's was taught in English can replace the certificate. [1][2][3]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For the September 2027 intake, applicants living outside Italy can apply from 1 October to 1 December 2026, at the €50 early bird fee, or from 12 January to 25 February 2027, at €150. Outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. [4]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. Students who are about to graduate can apply, using an attendance certificate, as long as they obtain the degree by the enrolment deadline. You can apply once per semester, to at most two programmes. [1][2][4]
I have a BCA or a B.Sc. in Computer Science from India. Can I apply?
PoliMi asks Indian applicants for a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech or B.E., and considers a three-year B.Sc. only if it is an Honours programme. A three-year BCA falls short of that rule. A B.Sc. Honours may be considered if it shows enough maths, physics and programming credits. [1][2]
What is the difference between the two tracks?
At enrolment you choose the degree class, LM-32 or LM-35, which sets your track: one suits a computing background, the other an environmental one. The tracks largely overlap and differ by 25 credits of compulsory courses. You can change until you register for the second year. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, PoliMi offered 60 places in Geoinformatics Engineering at Milano Leonardo, 35 of them reserved for non-EU students and 25 for Italian, EU and equivalent students. [5]
Can someone handle my whole application to Geoinformatics Engineering at PoliMi?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against PoliMi's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the Politecnico di Milano DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Geoinformatics Engineering?
PoliMi asks Indian applicants for a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech or B.E., with an average of at least 70 out of 100, and considers a three-year B.Sc. only if it is Honours. Your degree should include solid maths, physics and programming, and you need English proof such as IELTS 6. The steps are the online application, the committee's review and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2][3] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Geoinformatics Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application in the first or second call, the Admission Committee's review and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Geoinformatics Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application in the first or second call, the Admission Committee's review and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?
The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: online application in the first or second call, the Admission Committee's review and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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